Page 64 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

‘Don’t send her back on her own, Cait. Can’t she stay with you for the time being, until you’ve had time to calm down? Only I’ll be at work and Ray won’t want a teenager moping around the flat on her own.’

It was obvious to Caitlin that now she was out of the picture, it was Stuart who didn’t want a teenager moping around and cramping his style with Chiara. Poor Maisie. Caitlin could have cried for her stepdaughter. She could have cried for herself. But the flash of anger had gone, leaving her hollowed out and numb.

‘We’ll talk about Maisie another time,’ she said, needing to bring the call to a close. ‘I have to go.’

‘Cait, you are going to change your mind, aren’t you?’

Caitlin stared at the shadows dancing around her grandmother’s sitting room.

‘I’m afraid not. My mind’s made up.’

So, that was that. Caitlin ended the call and dropped her phone onto the sofa as if it was red hot. She knew about Stuart’s affair and her marriage was done. She’d had her life all mapped out but now the way ahead was uncertain and scary.

‘Gran, I wish you were here to talk to,’ she whispered into the dark room. But Jessie was gone for good, Isla resented her, and Maisie was distraught. What a mess.

Caitlin got up, chose a log from the pile on the hearth, and placed it on top of the dying fire. There was a crackle of sparks, and orange flames curled around the wood as she sat back on her heels, her mind on her stepdaughter.

When Maisie had asked if spilling the beans about Chiara made any difference, Caitlin had said no. But she’d lied to make Maisie feel better because the truth was it had changed everything.

Before Caitlin knew about Stuart’s mistress, she was determined to stay with her husband. He’d recklessly gambled with their money and destroyed her trust, but how could she leave a man whose life was on the slide, even if he didn’t accept the reality of the situation? She’d abandoned too many people in her life to do that again.

But his clandestine relationship with Chiara was the final straw. That deception wasn’t born out of addiction. It was born out of his selfishness and lust and lack of regard for his family. It was the ultimate betrayal and indicative of the state of their relationship. Her marriage was over and she could leave Stuart without the crushing guilt that had shackled her to him.

But what about Maisie? Caitlin stared into the fire and made a vow to herself. She’d walked away from Isla when her sister was not much older than her stepdaughter, and she would never make the same mistake again. She would never abandon Maisie, even though the stroppy teenager clearly disliked her intensely and would probably insist on staying with her father anyway. In which case, Caitlin would be truly alone.

Tears fell into her lap as she wished with all her heart that she’d made different choices all those years ago, when she’d had the chance.

25

ISLA

Isla shivered as she crossed the hall to turn up the thermostat on the wall. The snow was thawing this morning. Every now and then, there was a thud as parcels of snow slid from the roof and landed in the garden. But it was still cold and the paths outside were treacherous.

A sudden knock on the front door made her jump and she lowered her hand, the thermostat temperature still unchanged. A dark shape was visible through the stained glass.

Isla swallowed. She’d thought he might cry off but here he was, on today of all days. She ran her hands down her pink sweatshirt before walking to the door and opening it.

‘Hi, there. Are you quite sure this is OK?’ Ben was standing on the doorstep, a rucksack over his shoulder. ‘I can try to find somewhere else for tonight. Or I can squeeze into the box room at Driftwood House if it’s not convenient.’

‘No, it’s fine. Come on in.’

Isla ushered him inside, out of the melting snow, and they stood awkwardly in the hall. It was a shock, seeing the American in her home, even though she was the one who’d invited him. He brought a different energy to Rose Cottage, a sense of new life and adventure.

‘You have a lovely home,’ said Ben, sweeping his arm around the square, bright hallway. ‘I love these old houses. How old is this place?’

‘Early nineteenth century. My family were living in Heaven’s Brook, which is a hamlet nearby, but they moved into the village when this house was built.’

‘Interesting.’

Ben nodded, without catching her eye. He seemed nervous and Isla wondered again if inviting him to stay had been a horrible mistake. But it was too late to change things now.

She waited for him to untie his boots and slip them off. Then she said, ‘Come with me and I’ll show you to your room,’ leading the way up the stairs and onto the landing. When they reached the doorway to Jessie’s room, Isla stopped, her hand on the doorknob and aware of Ben standing closely behind her. Would Jessie mind this man having her room?

How can she possibly mind? She’s gone.

Isla closed her eyes and felt Ben’s hand on her arm. ‘Are you sure this is OK?’

Isla opened her eyes. ‘Of course,’ she said brightly, stepping into the room and gesturing for Ben to follow her. ‘I hope you’ll be comfortable in here.’

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